EPA fines Princess Cruises for wastewater violation

The Environmental Protection Agency has assessed Princess Cruises a $20,000 penalty for violating the terms of its wastewater discharge permit in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park.

The penalty was assessed in December and disclosed in a list of nearly 40 violations for the last quarter of 2012 in the EPA's district that includes Alaska.

According to the Associated Press, the case dates to May 2011, when a software malfunction on the Golden Princess caused its pool dump valves to open. The incident resulted in about 277 tons of pool water being discharged.

The EPA said Princess notified the agency of the discharges the day after they happened.